Automatic sprinkler



Nov. 30, 1926. v 1 608 515 E. F. LOWE AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER Filed Sept. 71923 Fig.1.

anvcntoz Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNIT-ED STATES ERNEST FRANKLIN LOWE, OF PLAINFIELI), NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Application filed September 7, 1923. i Serial No. 661,504.

My invention relates more specifically to the heat actuated means forputting a sprinkler head in operative condition.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved sprinklerhead of simple and durable construction, which will remain operativeduring long periods of time without being subject to corrosion or otherinjurious action tending to retard the automatic action of the head; toprovide an improved sprinkler head which will respond promptly to apredetermined rate-of-increase in temperature in excess of the normalrate of temperature increase, but which will remain inoperative undernormal temperature changes; to provide an improved releasing means forsprinkler heads.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section ofan automatic sprinkler head constructed in accordance with my inventionFigure 2 is a vertical section of a typical form of my improvedreleasing means, somewhat enlarged;

Referring to the drawings, one embodiment of my invention comprises atubular base 1, a yoke 2 preferably integral therewith and verticalthereto. The tubular base 1 is open at both ends and the lower end maybe threaded as shown at 3 for connection to fire extinguishing fluidsupply pipe (not shown}. The upper end 1 of the tubular base 1 isnormally closed by a fluid tight valve or cap 5, or other suitablemeans, held normally in place by two opposed strut members 6 and 7, oneplaced above and supported by the other in some such manner as shown inFig. 1. against some such point in the yoke 2 as 8 through which atension adjusting screw 9 extends and contacts with the upper strut.

The outer ends of the struts may be pro- -vided with opposed hook-likemembers 10 and 11. In the typical construction a fixed temperaturefusible link connects the hooklike members 10 and 11, tension sufficientto hold cap 5 fluid tightis applied through tension screw 9. Thus far Ihave simply shown a typical constructionperfectly fa miliar to thoseeven casually acquainted with the art. In my invention I connect themembers 10 and 11 bythe member shown in Fig. 2 wherein, in,.oneform ofadaptation of my invention, 12 is a capsule of more or less readilyfracturable ;material, such as some form of glass, separated into Theupper strut bearscompartments, as 13 and 14, by the dividng wall 15 butwhich compartments are interconnected, as by the orifice 16. The

lower compartment 14 is completely filled and the upper compartment 13is filled to a predetermined extent with any one of the well knownliquids having a high coeflicient of expansion such as alcohol, leavingsome such space as 1? empty. The capsule 12 may be provided at eitherend with extended portions 18 and 19 wherein are openings as 20 and 21which engage the members 10 and 11 of the struts 6 and 7 In the assembled head shown the capsule 12 is sealed against the atmosphere afterbeing supplied with the expansile liquid as indicated; after the closuremeans 5 is in place the struts 6 and 7 are placed as indicated and thememthereby freeing the struts 6 and 7 and releas ng the closure meansSipermitting the restrained fire extinguishing fluid to be dischargedagainst the usual deflector plate shown above the member 8 and hedifi'used over a more or less definite area.

It is well known that liquids expand at a rate which is in definiterelation to the amount of heat applied to them. hence it the volume ofthe liquid contained in 14 is increased more rapidly than it can escapethrough 16 pressure will be built up in 14 and' the capsule 12 will beruptured. It will at once be seen that the compartment 1 1 and thereleasing vent 16 comprise a thermostat dependent upon therate-of-temperature-increase and not upon any 'fixed temperature beingattained. Inasmuch as the capacities of 13 and 1 1, the area of 16, the

.volume of 17 and the liquid used in 12 are On the other hand, bydiminishing the area of 16 the bulb or capsule may be made to rupturewith an increase of temperature at a rate less than the rate which wouldbe required to rupture it when the area is larger. Hence by adjustmentof the size of the vent or orifice through which the expanding liquidmay escape-from compartmentl4 the device may be made to remaininoperative under rates of change of te1nperature accompanying normalrates of temperature changes and will, be made to rupture and releasethe extinguisher when a temperature change occurs at a greater than thenormal or permissible rate. At the same time the device will operateupon the attainment of a fixed or absolute temperature sufficientlyhigh, as in the case of a slow fire, although that temperature may beattained by a slow rate of rise, the rupture of the bulb occurring inthis instance when the compensation afforded by the passage of theliquid into the partially filled compartment and the compression of theair or vapor in the air space 17 has been exhausted.

It will at once be seen that bv varying one or more of the element siof12 that I produce a detaining or thermostatic controlling member whichwill operate upon any desired predetermined rate of increase oftemperature but which will remain inoperative under rates of changeaccompanying normal temperature changes while the device still remainscapable of functioning on the attainment of a dangerousfixed or absolutetemperature of predetermined amount however reached, that is to say, byan equal rate of rise or by a slower rate.

'It is to be understood that, although -I have shown and'described oneconstruction and method of use, I do not limit myselfto the form, use,materials, number, shape or size of parts nor to the method of assemblyI or connection of parts. The member 12 may be used either as acompression or tension res'sting member and may be separated into anynumber of compartments inter-communicating in any feasible manner.

I claim: 1 1.- A thermostatic link comprising a breakable capsuledivided into a plurality of chambers intercon'imunicating through acompensating vent, said capsule being partially filled with an expansileliquid.

2. A rate-of-temperature-increase thermostat comprising a capsuledivided into a plurality of chambers intercommunicating through acompensating vent, said capsule being partially filled with an expansileliquid 3. A thermostat comprising a capsule sealed aga nst theatmosphere and divided into a plurality of chambers intercommuni, catingthrough a compensating vent and containing expansile liquid.

4. A sprinkler head link comprising a breakable capsule divided into aplurality of chambers and containing expansile fluid adapted to rupturethe capsule by expansion 'thercof in one chamber filled with said fluidand having a restricted outlet leading to an:

one to the other.

ERNEST FRANKLIN LOWE.

